The Geneva Convention on Refugees defines
the protection of all humans worldwide who
are fleeing persecution and serious danger as
a fundamental right, calling into existence
the status of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;recognized refugeeâ&#x20AC;?.

1985

The Schengen agreement puts an end to
conÂ­trols at internal borders. Therefore,
controlling the EUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s external borders
becomes more significant.

1992

The civil war in Yugoslavia forces many
people to flee the country. The EUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 15
member states at the time take in hundreds
of thousands of refugees.

1999

The EU states decide that in the future there
will be a common EU asylum policy. The aim
is to create the same conditions for all asylum
seekers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; regardless of which EU country
they apply for asylum in.

2003

The Dublin accord requires that refugees
must claim asylum in the country in which
they first entered the EU. Naturally, this often
happens in countries at the EUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s external
border.

2004

Frontex supports and coordinates the
coÂ­operation of member states at the EUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
external border. The agency is also aiming to
fight irregular immigration.

The deadliest year in EU refugee policy so far:
according to UNHCR, 5000 people drown in
the Mediterranean, among them many
children and teenagers.

2017

As part of an ordinary legislative procedure,
the EU member states negotiate a reform of
the Common Asylum Policy. EU countries at
the external borders are to be given relief by
way of a more just and effective system.